My First Book Cover Is Up!

[SHARK]

Greetings!

Arcane, again, this is very, very cool! I like the cover, and I like the ideas presented. I will certainly buy this product as soon as I see it in my game store, I can assure you. How does it feel to be published? How does it feel to be paid for your creativity? You must be very proud. Well done sir!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

 

[James McMurray]

I like the idea of amysterious ancient civilization. However, is the origens of the area left as an exercise for the DM or are they spelled out in the sourcebook itself? I've always felt that the first option was a writer's excuse to make cool things happen without having to think of why they happened. Or to leave lots of great plot threads that they couldn't think of where to go with them. No offense intended towards you, that was a general statement, not necessarily pertaining to this book in particular, but those types of books in general.

 

[mythusmage]

mythusmage, I wanted to read your site, but the pop-up ads were too much for me.

Bump.

BTW, The Gaming Outpost isn't my site, I'm promoting it (and my column). You can get rid of the ads by subscribing, at a rate of a (US) dollar a month. Let's you get rid of the ads and read the pay items. Worth the price.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

Greetings!

Arcane, again, this is very, very cool! I like the cover, and I like the ideas presented. I will certainly buy this product as soon as I see it in my game store, I can assure you. How does it feel to be published? How does it feel to be paid for your creativity? You must be very proud. Well done sir!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Shark;

No lie, it feels fantastic. The last year has been a dream season, life ambition wise. First Dragon magazine, now this book, it's the culmination of 20+ years of gaming and dreaming.

But, at the same time, and beware, I am going to evangelize at you, it makes me smack myself in the head. Fear of rejection held me back for too long. I'm just 28, so I'm glad I got started now, but I should have been publishing 5 years ago. It's true- companies WANT talent. If you have good ideas and writing skills, they WILL give you your break. I've had my share of luck, it's true: I'm 3 for 3 on Dragon submissions and 3 for 3 on sourcebooks, but I also can say that I have ideas and talent enough to give this a good run. My point, Shark, is that YOU need to get publishing. You have talent and ideas. You have a fanbase even. I know you have been approached by Natural 20 press. Seize you moment. If you have already started down that path, with Natural 20 press or another company, good. If not, get cracking soldier.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

I like the idea of amysterious ancient civilization. However, is the origens of the area left as an exercise for the DM or are they spelled out in the sourcebook itself? I've always felt that the first option was a writer's excuse to make cool things happen without having to think of why they happened. Or to leave lots of great plot threads that they couldn't think of where to go with them. No offense intended towards you, that was a general statement, not necessarily pertaining to this book in particular, but those types of books in general.

No offense taken.

The origins of the city are left up to the DM to decide for 3 reasons:

1) The mission statement of the Cities of Fantasy series requires that each city be as modular as possible. Ideally, there should be nothing in the book that requires the DM to do a substantial rewrite.

2) The book is 64 pages. I felt that it was most important to detail the present day of the city, concentrating on NPCs, locations, adventure hooks and so on. My fear was that if I put too specific of an origin story in, I would eat up valuable space and that a large chunk of DMs would disregard that origin for one of their own.

3) I had just watched Disney's Atlantis and a Discover channel special on the mystery of Roanoke island. I thought it would be kind of nifty to merge both stories, presenting players with an ancient artificial island who's owners had simply vanished without a trace, leaving behind only empty buildings and giant, untranslateable runes on the foundations of the city that may or may not solve the mystery.

I actually do have an origin story for the city. Because of the way I design, I have to fill in all the blanks, even if the no one else ever sees my "secret" history.

 

[Matafuego]

Well give us your secret story!!!!
I really liked the idea... The problem I have is I live in Argentina, where our local currency (the "peso") has just lost it's value as regards the dolar and things costs us three times more than they did...
I also love the wholse Slayer's guide concept but I couldn't buy any book...
Congratulations for the work and keep on!!!

 

[Goremole]

Congrats on your first book Patrick, you must be stoked!

I actually contributed several pieces of interior art for Stormhaven, so I got to read a fair chunk of the text.
This city has great potential, could grow to Freeport/Bluffside proportions. There are some great NPC characters in there as well
(like the blind half orc beggar and his performing dire weasel!)
It reminded me a bit of Discworld ( maybe cos its on a disc?)

Personally, I don't think the cover does the book justice, needs more work IMHO, but I'm really looking forward to getting my copy.

Congrats again and look forward to seeing your next book.

DG.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

Congrats on your first book Patrick, you must be stoked!

I actually contributed several pieces of interior art for Stormhaven, so I got to read a fair chunk of the text.
This city has great potential, could grow to Freeport/Bluffside proportions. There are some great NPC characters in there as well
(like the blind half orc beggar and his performing dire weasel!)
It reminded me a bit of Discworld ( maybe cos its on a disc?)

Personally, I don't think the cover does the book justice, needs more work IMHO, but I'm really looking forward to getting my copy.

DG.

Thank you so much! I'm glad to hear that you did some of the interior art on my book. I very much look forward to seeing the text brought to life in pictures.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

Well give us your secret story!!!!
I really liked the idea... The problem I have is I live in Argentina, where our local currency (the "peso") has just lost it's value as regards the dolar and things costs us three times more than they did...
I also love the wholse Slayer's guide concept but I couldn't buy any book...
Congratulations for the work and keep on!!!

Sorry to hear about the money crunch. Hope things improve.

On the day of Stormhaven's release I'll put out the "secret origin". Maybe I'll try and polish up a couple of NPCs and locations I dropped from the final manuscript because of space limitations as well.

 

[Mark]

Congrats, ARP!